Monday, April 30, 2018

Things Go Downhill

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the 
world, and death by sin; and so death passed 
to all men, for that all have sinned. 
Romans 5:12

My claim to my right to myself entered into the human 
race by one man, and another Man took on Him the 
sin of the human race and put it away.

Sin is a thing I am born with and I cannot touch it; 
God touches sin in Redemption. In the Cross of Jesus 
Christ, God redeemed the whole human race from 
the possibility of damnation through the heredity of 
sin. The condemnation is not that I am born with a 
heredity of sin, but if when I realize Jesus Christ came 
to deliver me from it, I refuse to let Him do so, from 
that moment I begin to get the seal of damnation. 
"And this is the judgement" (the critical moment), 
"that the light is come into the world, 
and men loved darkness rather than the light." 
Oswald Chambers

Going on in Romans 5 we find this verse:

So then through one transgression there resul-
ted condemnation to all men, even so through 
one act of righteousness there resulted justifi-
cation of life to all men. Romans 5:18

Living Bible: Yes, Adam's sin brought punish-
meant to all, but Christ's righteousness makes 
men right with God, so they can live.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our 
behalf, that we might become the righteousness 
of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21

Living Bible: For God took the sinless Christ 
and poured into him our sins. 
Then, in exchange, he poured goodness into us. 

Reader, the hour is late and it is so important that you
grasp these scriptures and make Christ your own.
We are saved not by good works, or joining church,
or being baptized. We are saved when we believe that
we were born sinners, BUT, that God has provided us
with eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son. Yes,
salvation is for everyone, but we have to choose it.
May you grasp this and act on it!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Secure In His Love

Since He did not spare His own Son for us but
gave Him up for us all, won't he also surely give
us everything.  Romans 8:32

Blessed be God, our God,
Who gave us His well-loved Son,
The Gift of gifts, all other gifts in one;
Blessed be God, our God!

What will He not bestow,
Who freely have this mighty Gift unsought,
Unmerited, unheeded, and unsought;
What will He not bestow?

He spared not His Son!
'Tis this that silences each rising fear;
'Tis this that bids the hard thought disappear;
He spared not His Son!

Who shall condemn us now?
Who shall recall the pardon or the grace,
Or who the broken chain of guilt replace?
'Tis God that justifies!

The victory is ours!
For us in might came forth the mighty One;
For us He fought the fight, the triumph won;
The victory is ours!  
Horatius Bonar 1808-89

Reader, I am moved by the poetry of Horatius Bonar,
a man born and bred in Scotland.

He came from a long line of ministers who have served 
a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of 
eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew 
Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of 
Scotland He married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and 
five of their young children died in succession. Towards 
the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was 
left a widow with five small children and she returned to 
live with her parents...  Wikipedia

This dear man never fails to move me when I read what
he has written. Bonar suffered deeply, but His faith was 
not superficial, nor was it in vain. The website below gives
a fuller picture of Horatius Bonar.

https://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bbonar.html








Thursday, April 26, 2018

Do It Yourself?

Bringing into captivity every thought
   to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5

In our Lord's life every project was disciplined to the 
will of the Father. There was not a movement of an 
impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father's--
"The Son can do nothing of Himself."
Then take ourselves--a vivid religious experience, 
and every project born of impulse put into action 
immediately, instead of being imprisoned and disci-
plined to obey Christ. 

This is a day when practical work is overemphasized, 
and the saints who are binging every project into cap-
tivity are criticized and told they are not in earnest for 
God or for souls. True earnestness is found in obeying 
God, not in the inclination to serve Him that is born 
of undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, 
but true nevertheless, that saints are not bringing e-
very project into captivity, but are doing for God at the 
instigation of their own human nature which has not 
been spiritualized by determined discipline. 

We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed 
to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus 
Christ's view of God, of the world, of sin, and of the 
devil, and that will mean that he must recognize the 
responsibility of being transformed by the renewing 
of his mind.  Oswald Chambers

Reader, as I typed this, I was thinking about the
'projects' I have undertaken:

"What are my motives? Is God still in this or am I
using this for myself? Why did I decide to do this?
Was He the initiator?"

Chambers reminded me that one reason I need to stay
in scripture with the purpose of a renewed mind, is so
that I can know God's will. If I stop and pay attention
I realize that my days are made up mostly of the little
things--like cleaning toilets--, rather than the things
that are recognized as 'spiritual.' I ask you, "Do you
sometimes look with jealousy at another's giftings,
gifts and callings that are not yours?" I have fought
this battle! I believe scripture teaches that we will be
rewarded according to our obedience, not according
to what we think we have achieved, or should be achie-
ving. Besides, God keeps much of that a secret.





Wednesday, April 25, 2018

How the Mighty Have Fallen

Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly
pressed to consider well the main end of his life and
studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eter-
nal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the
bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge 
and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, 
let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret 
to seek of Him (Prov 2:3). Everyone shall exercise him-
self in reading the scriptures twice a day that he shall 
be ready to give such an account of his proficiency 
therein.  Rules of Harvard in 1636

Reader, Harvard was established only16 years after
the arrival of the Pilgrims and the signing of the
Mayflower Covenant. A foundation was laid that has
undergirded our nation for over 200 years. A bill is
being considered in California that would ban the sale
of Bibles because this book does not share their world
view of gender. The church is no longer the cutting
edge in our culture. Darkness is descending.


Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Firmly Fixed

My righteous one will live by faith. Hebrews 10:38

Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the infinite greatness
of Christ's finished work and His righteousness.
Look to Jesus and believe--look to Jesus and live! In 
fact, as you look to Him, unfurl your sails and bravely 
face the raging storms on the sea of life. Do not exhi-
bit your distrust by staying in the security of the calm 
harbor, or sleeping comfortably through a life of ease. 

Sail away! Spread your sail toward the storm and trust 
in Him who rules the raging sea.
"Put your hope in God."  Psalm 42:5    JR Macduff

When I cannot feel the faith of assurance, I live by the 
fact of God's faithfulness.    Matthew Henry

Reader, each day is a new challenge. I find the com-
meant of Matthew Henry is what keeps me on an even
keel. I cannot trust my faithfulness but I can live by
God's faithfulness. His Word is full of God caring and
intervening on behalf of His kids. However, if I am not
careful, I miss His faithfulness to me. Our battle is in
the mind.

Monday, April 23, 2018

A Sense of Urgency

In the last couple of weeks I have had a sense of urgency
regarding just how much time we have left. In the last wk
alone, one man discovered 147 different articles that had
prophetic significance. Syria has within its borders the
three main countries mentioned in Ez 38:2--Russia, Iran
and Turkey--each of whom wants to take out Israel. Then
I watched a dvd of a woman who has the gift of evangel-
ism and who shares the Gospel with all she meets. Claudia
has greatly encouraged me to be much more proactive in
sharing the Good News of Salvation with others. Just yes-
terday I sat next to a woman in church who was hungry for
God but had no idea how to seal the deal. We went through
Rom 3:23; 6:23; 10:9,10. Tears fell as we prayed together.

Reader, my encouragement to you is to equip yourself to
be able to share the Gospel and then talk to people about
Jesus. Claudia's website is posted below where she gives
her testimony and also how God uses her voice and her
heart to bring as many as possible into the Kingdom. You
can also order the dvd from her website.

(Jesus says,) "For the Son of Man has come to seek 
and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

'...when you see all these things happening, know that 
the Kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, 
this generation (the generation that sees Israel be-
come a nation) will be no means pass away till all 
things take place. 
Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will 
by no means pass away." Luke 21:31-33

Claudia's website:
http://www.soulsaviour.org

Please share this with others!!!!




Friday, April 20, 2018

Eagles Wings

Descend from the crest. Song of Songs 4:8

Bearing the burden of crushing weight actually gives 
Christians wings. This may sound like a contradic-
tion in terms, but it is a blessed truth. While endur-
ing a severe trial, David cried, "Oh, that I had wings
of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." Ps 55:6
Yet before he finished his meditation, he seems to
have realized that his wish for wings was attainable,
for then he said, "Cast your cares on the Lord and
He will sustain you." Ps 55:22
The word "burden" is described in my Bible commen-
tary as being "what Jehovah has given you.The 
saints' burdens are God-given, leading us to wait on 
Him. And once we have done so, the burden is trans-
formed into a pair of wings through the miracle of 
trust, and the one who was weighted down "will soar 
on wings like eagles." Isa 40:31 
Sunday School Times

Reader, there is something to back up these really
ridiculous claims. King David wrote Psalm 23 when
he was exiled from Jerusalem because his very own
son had betrayed him. It seems to be a process for
most of us. David could not have written these words
at the beginning of his trials with Saul, but he learned
to lean on God and wrote psalms of pain which con-
tained words of praise. Psalm 23, written in the cruci-
ble of anguish is the best known psalm today.

The Lord IS MY Shepherd.
I shall not want...

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

To Live is Christ

For me, to live is Christ...  Phil 1:21

A Christian is one who has become spiritually alive
from the dead. The presence of spiritual life within
him is the one fundamental thing that distinguishes
him from the unregenerate world about him.

This spiritual life is not native to us, nor can it be de-
veloped out of anything we have or are by nature. It 
must be given to us. So God has given us eternal life
"and this life is in His Son, "through whose posses-
sion of us when we believed on Him we were born 
from above; "not of blood, nor of the will of the 
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God"; by which 
we have become a "new creation" in Christ, thereby 
made "partakers of the divine nature."

The life of the Christian, therefore, is the life of Christ
within us through the Holy Spirit. It is not a life simi-
lar to His, it is His life. This is shown by the fact that 
what we receive in the new birth is not only "everlast-
ing life, but also "eternal life."  For while everlasting 
life has no end, yet it may have a beginning; but eter-
nal life has neither beginning nor end.

Now the Triune God is the only one in the universe 
who has eternal life. The only way He can give us e-
ternal life, therefore, is to possess us with His own life, 
through Christ, by the Holy Spirit.This is one thing 
Paul meant when he said, 
"To me to live is Christ." 
This is a mystery that is too high for us. We can none 
of us understand it, but we can believe it.  JE Conant

Reader, Think of the Tabernacle of old where Life
and glory came down to dwell. The covering of the
Tabernacle was dark, but, oh, the inside was explod-
ing with light. When we come to Christ we are put
into Him and He is put into us. It is way beyond my
understanding. I hope you take the time to ponder
this blog. It has taken me years to realize a little bit
of what I have IN CHRIST.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only
begotten Son that we might not perish, but have
eternal life. John 3:16




Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Lost Hope

We had hope. Luke 24:21

I have always been so sorry that the two disciples walk-
ing on the road to Emmaus did not say to Him, "We still 
hope" instead of "We had hope." The situation is very 
sad, because in their minds it is over.

Oh, if only that had said, "Everything has come against
our hope, and it looks as if our trust were in vain. Yet
we will not give up, because we believe we will see 
Him again." Instead, they walked by His side, declar-
ing their shattered faith. Jesus had to say to them, 
"How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe!
From 'Crumbs'

Reader, the exciting thing to me is that Jesus showed
Himself to these disciples and to Thomas. Yes, it would
have been wonderful if their faith had not failed, but our
loving Lord knows our frame and He is tender even
when we lose hope. I find that when my faith is faltering,
He comes with something that brings me back to Him-
self and to the truth that He can be trusted because--
Jesus Never Fails.





Monday, April 16, 2018

A Sacrifice of Praise

Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
Hebrews 13:15

An inner-city missionary, stumbling through the trash
of a dark apartment doorway, heard someone say, "who's 
there, Honey?" Lighting a match, he caught sight of 
earthly needs and suffering, amid saintly trust and peace. 
Calm, appealing eyes, etched in ebony, were set within 
the wrinkles of a weathered black face. On a bitterly cold
night in February, she lay on a tattered bed, with no fire, 
no heat, and no light. Having had no breakfast, lunch, or 
dinner, she seemed to have nothing at all, except arthritis 
and faith in God. No one could have been further re-
moved from comfortable circumstances, yet this favorite 
song of the dear lady played in the background.

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
Nobody knows but Jesus;
Nobody knows the trouble I see--
Sing Glory Hallelu!

Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down,
Sometimes I'm level on the grown',
Sometimes the glory shines around'--
Sing Glory Hallelu!

And so it continued: 
"Nobody knows the work I do, 
Nobody knows the griefs I have,"
until the last verse rose:

Nobody knows the joys I have,
Nobody knows but Jesus!
Sing Glory Hallelu

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crush;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down but not destroyed" 
2 Corinthians 4: 8,9
It takes these great Bible words to explain the joy
of this elderly black woman
William C Garnett 

Reader, this blog causes me to push the pause button.
We sing the verse above and try to put a good face
on the broken TV or the latest news, or a misunder-
standing. Maybe I should put the verse at the top of
the blog on my mirror or refrigerator...

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Feeling Depressed?

My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The other day I was riding home after a hard days work. 
I was very tired and deeply depressed, when quickly, and 
as suddenly as a lightning bolt, the verse came to me: 
"My grace is sufficient for you."When I arrived home I 
looked it up in the Word, and it finally came to me this way: 
"MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU." 
My response was to say, "Yes, Lord, I should think it is! 
Then I burst out laughing.

Until that time, I had never understood what the holy laugh-
ter of Abraham was. This verse seemed to make unbelief 
totally absurd. I pictured a little fish who was concerned a-
bout drinking the river dry, with Father River saying, 
"Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for you." I 
also envisioned a mouse afraid of starving after seven 
years of plenty, when Joseph says to him, "Cheer up, little 
mouse; my granaries are sufficient for you." Again, I ima-
gined a man high on a mountain peak, saying to himself, 
"I breathe so many cubic feet of air each year, I am afraid 
I will deplete all the oxygen in the atmosphere. "But the 
earth says to him, "Breathe away, filling your lungs forever; 
my atmosphere is sufficient for you."

O people of God, be great believers! Little faith will bring 
your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven into 
your souls.  Charles H Spurgeon--1833-1892

Reader, I did some research and discovered that this great
preacher had physical, spiritual and emotional difficulties
all of his life. I have posted a small part of this story below.
If you look to the left at other articles, you will find more
about his life, but not his the struggles in his life. It is com-
forting to me that many of those we think so perfect, have
many issues such as depression which was true of Spurgeon.
So take heart discouraged one, it is God in you that makes
all the difference!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-29/anguish-and-agonies-of-charles-spurgeon.html 

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

More Than You Know

Though John never performed a miraculous sign, 
all that John said about this man was true.
John 10:41

Perhaps you are very dissatisfied  with yourself. You 
are not a genius, have no distinctive gifts, and are in-
conspicuous when it comes to having any special a-
bilities. Mediocrity seems to be the measure of your 
existence. None of your days are noteworthy, except
for their sameness and lack of zest. Yet in spite of 
this you may live a great life.

John the Baptist never performed a miracle, but Jesus
said of him, "Among those born of women there is no
one greater." (Luke 7:28) His mission was to be "a wit-
ness to the light." That may be your mission and mine.
John was content to be only a voice, if it caused people
to think of Christ.

We are doing more good than we know. The things we 
do today--sowing seeds or sharing simple truths of
Christ--people will someday refer to as the first things
that prompted them to think of Him. For my part, I will
be satisfied not to have some great tombstone over my
grave but to know that common people will gather there
once I am gone and say, "He was a good man. He never
performed any miracles, but he told me about Christ, 
which led me to know Him for myself. George Matheson

Reader, the purpose of the Church is "To make Christ
known." I am asking God to give me opportunities to
share Him who loves each one I meet. The news is not
very good these days and we do not know how much
time we have on earth--and Jesus could come for His
bride at any time. That alone is motivating me to be-
come more proactive in sharing my faith with strangers.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The River of Life

He who believes in Me...out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water. John 7:38

A river touches places of which its source knows
nothing, and Jesus says if we have received of 
His fullness, however small the visible measure
of our lives, out of us will flow the rivers that 
will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth. We
have nothing to do with outflow--"This is the 
work of God that ye believe..." God rarely allows
a soul to see the blessing that he is.
Oswald Chambers

Reader, living water flowing is dependent on our
continual 'believing.' Jesus also said that the work
we do which is pleasing to God, is tied into believ-
ing. Faith in our God is the foundation for every-
thing we do here on earth. The part that makes me
smile is that God does not let us see the impact of
our lives. That too is a walk of faith!

Glen and I listened to this tonight and it might be
of interest to you. The current drone technology
is way beyond the toys we play with. Billy Crone
is a pastor in Las Vegas who has studied this sub-
ject for many years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR7c77kb-6g&feature=youtu.be

Monday, April 9, 2018

Seeing Him Who Is Invisible

After that He appeared in another form unto
the two of them. Mark 16:12

Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing.
Many are partakers of God's grace who have never
seen Jesus. When once you have seen Jesus, you can
never be the same, other things do not appeal as they
used to do.

Always distinguish between what you see Jesus to be,
and what He has done for you. If you only know what
He has done for you, you have not a big enough God;
but if you have had a vision of Jesus as He is, experien-
ces can come and go, you will endure "as seeing Him
Who is invisible." The man blind from his birth did
not know Who Jesus was until He appeared and re-
vealed Himself to him. Jesus appears to those for whom
He has done something; but we cannot dictate when He
 will come. Suddenly He may come. "Now I see Him!"

Jesus must appear to your friend as well as to you, no
one can see Jesus with your eyes. Severance takes
place where one and not the other has seen Jesus. You
cannot bring your friend unless God brings him. Have
you seen Jesus? Then you will want others to see Him
too. "And they went and told it unto the residue, nei-
ther believed them" You must tell, although they do
not believe.

O could I tell, ye surely would believe it!
    O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can ye receive it,
    How, till He brings you where I have been?
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

Reader, I thirst for Him. My longing grows to see Him
more clearly. He who is invisible. I pray that He will
become your meat and drink.

Here is a brief biography:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/innertravelers/oswald-chambers.html 

Sunday, April 8, 2018

It Passes Knowledge

The love of Christ, which passes knowledge
Ephesians 3:19

O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my longing heart
    All taken up, by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
    The love of Christ for me.

Stronger His love than death or hell;
Its riches are unsearchable;
    The first-born sons of light
Desire in vain its depth to see;
They cannot reach the mystery,
    The length, and breadth, and height.

God only knows the love of God;
O that it now were shed abroad
    In this poor stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
    Be mine this better part.

O that I could for ever sit
Like Mary at the Master's feet!
    Be this my happy choice:
My only care, delight, and bliss,
My joy, my heaven on earth, be this,
    To hear the Bridegroom's voice.
Charles Wesley  (1707-1788)

Reader, go back and look at this poem again.
It is a balm unto your soul...

Friday, April 6, 2018

Then Came a Lion

Then there came a lion. 1 Samuel 17:34

It is a source of inspiration and strength to us to re-
member how the youthful David trusted God.
Through his faith in the Lord, he defeated a lion
and a bear and later overthrew the mighty Goliath.
When the lion came to destroy his flock, it came 
as a wonderful opportunity for David. Had he fal-
tered, he would have missed God's opportunity 
for him and probably would never have been the 
Lord's chosen king of Israel.

Normally we think of a lion not as a special bles-
sing from the Lord but only as a reason for alarm.
Yet the lion was God's opportunity in disguise.
Every difficulty and every temptation that comes
to us, if received correctly, is God's opportunity.

When a "lion" comes to your life, recognize it as
an opportunity from the Lord, no matter how fierce
it may outwardly seem. Even the tabernacle of God 
was covered with badger skins and goat hair. No 
one would think there would be any glory there, yet 
the Shechinah glory of God was very evident unde-
rneath the covering. May the Lord open our eyes to 
see Him in temptations, trials, dangers, and misfor-
tunes. CHP 

Reader, nothing can come into our lives that is not
first passed through our God who surrounds us. In
these last days we have the opportunity to lay down
our lives for the One who laid down His life for us.
Trials seem to be piling up. I do not have a large
readership but almost daily someone tells me that
a blog was helpful. We need one another for lone-
liness is a big thing for many of my readers.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Be Still and Wait

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him
Psalm 37:7

Have you prayed and prayed, waited and waited? Are you 
tired of seeing no movement? Are you at the point of giv-
ing up? Then perhaps you have not waited in the right way, 
which removes you from the right place--the place where 
the Lord can meet you.

"Wait for it patiently" (Rom 8:25). Patience eliminates 
worry. The Lord said He would come, and His promise is 
equal to His presence. Patience eliminates weeping. Why 
feel sad and discouraged? He knows your needs better 
than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to receive more 
glory through it. Patience eliminates self-works. "The 
work of God is this: to believe" (Jn 6:29), and once you 
believe, you may know all is well. Patience eliminates 
all want. Perhaps your desire to receive what you want 
is stronger than your desire for the will of God to be 
fulfilled.

Patience eliminates all weakness. Instead of thinking of 
waiting as being wasted time, realize that God is prepar-
ing His resources and strengthening you as well. Patience 
eliminates all wobbling. "He touched me and raised me 
to my feet." (Dan 8:18). God's foundations are steady 
while we wait. Patience yields worship. Sometimes the 
best part of praiseful waiting is experiencing "great en-
durance and patience...joyfully." (Col 1:11) While you 
wait, "let (all these aspects of) Patience have her perfect 
work." (Jam 1:4), and you will be greatly enriched. CHP

Reader, patience is not a popular concept in our world. All
of us have things that we can't make happen. I am so glad
that Jesus has "patience" and that He lives in me, other-
wise my life would be an ongoing grouch. I just need to
remember to tap into His power.

May you be filled with the knowledge of HIs will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may 
walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being
fruitful in every good work with increasing knowledge
of God; strengthened with all might, according to His
glorious power, for all patience and long suffering
with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has quaili-
find us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in light.  Col 1:9-12

My prayer for you today, dear reader.





Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The Depth of His Riches

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his
judgements, and his ways past finding out.
Romans 11:33

If you ask me how I know that the Lord is present,
since His ways are past finding out, my answer is
that the Word is living and active, and as soon as
ever He entered me, He aroused my sleeping soul,
and stirred and softened and pricked my heart,
that had been sick and hard as stone.

He began to pluck up and destroy, to build and plant, 
to water the dry places and shed light upon the dark, 
to open what was shut, to warm the chill, to make 
the crooked straight and the rough places plain; so 
that my soul has blessed the Lord and all that is 
within me has praised His holy Name.

Thus has the Bridegroom entered into me; my senses 
told me nothing of His coming, I knew that He was 
present only by the movement of my heart. I per-
ceived His power, because it put my sins to flight and 
exercises a strong control on all my impulses. I am 
moved to wonder at His wisdom too, uncovering my 
secret faults and teaching me to see their sinfulness; 
and I have experienced His gentleness and kindness 
in such measure as to astonish me.
Bernard of Clairvaux--The 12th Century

Reader, the rest of the thought in Paul's
stunning verse above is:

For who has known the mind 
   of the Lord?
Or who has first given to Him
   And it shall be repaid to 
     him? (Is 40:13; Job 41:11)

For of Him and through Him and to Him are 
all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen  
Hebrews 11:34-36





Monday, April 2, 2018

Trials That Build Us

Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised
me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites
were there and their cities were large and fortified,
but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just
as he said.  Joshua 14: 12, 13

Extraordinary afflictions are not always punishment 
for extraordinary sins. Sanctified afflictions are spiri-
tual promotions.  Matthew Henry

Some brothers and sisters have met few difficulties, but 
they are spiritually feeble. The explanation is, they have 
not consumed enough Anakim. On the other hand there 
are those who have met difficulty and overcome. They 
are full of vigor. The reason is, that they have fed well on 
Anakim--(their giants.) Every difficulty and every tempta-
tion Satan puts in our way is food for us. This is a divine-
ly appointed means of spiritual progress. The sight of any 
great trouble strikes terror into the heart of those, who 
do not believe God, but those who trust Him say: 
"Praise God, here is some more food!
All our trials without exception, are bread for us, and as 
we accept one trial after the other, we are more and more 
richly nourished and the result is a continuous increase 
of strength.   Watchman Nee

Wow reader! What a challenge for those of us who live
in these times where life seems to change on a dime.
Watchman Nee was not a light weight for his ministry
corresponded to the rise of Mao and he spent the last 20
years of his life in a Chinese prison. Nee died in 1972.
After his conversion, he established numerous churches
and wrote many books. One of my favorites is
The Normal Christian Life. Nee walked the talk. While
in prison he offered to clean the cells of other prisoners.
In this way many were saved. How could he possibly
do this day after day without the understanding that trials
were food for his soul! He couldn't--and neither can we.
In the west we seem to get the drip, drip, drip of discour-
agement in little things, while our brothers and sisters in
other parts of the world face daily hindrances from their
families and religious leaders, not to mention the govern-
ments. Regardless, the enemy wants to muzzle us.

He is risen!
Let's go out and eat snake!

A biography of Watchman Nee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchman_Nee

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Sunday, April 1, 2018

Oh, Hallelujah

I am the resurrection and the life. 
John 11:25

Love's redeeming work is done;
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er!
Lo, He sets in blood no more.
Hallelujah!

Vane the stone, the watch, the seal!
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
Death in vane forbids His rise;
Christ has opened Paradise.
Hallelujah!

Lives again our glorious King;
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, He all doth save;
Where thy victory, O grave?
Hallelujah!

Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;
Made like Him, like Him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
Hallelujah!
Charles Wesley  1707-88

Reader, this hymn comes from many Resurrection
Sundays as I grew up. It still brings tears to my
eyes.

Bring back the organ, the brass and the choir!